Black Box

Brian Ainsworth · Post by **Brian Ainsworth** » 18 May 2006 7:07 am

Hi everyone. This is my first post, so bare with me.. What is this Black Box I read about on the forum.. Is it like the Goodrich Matchbox or the Hilton sustain? Thanks for everyones help. Bryan Ainsworth

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 18 May 2006 7:15 am

Check out,
www.steelguitarblackbox.com

There's a description there as well as a list of testimonials from users that will help describe it.

Short answer: The Black Box is an all vacuum tube pickup buffer amp used for preserving and enhancing the tone of the steel guitar pickup (or any pickup for that matter). Like the other "sustain" or "matching" devices, it goes right after the pickup and before the volume pedal. It also has a variable impedance control which acts like a tone control.

Brad

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 18 May 2006 7:32 am

Brian,
Just my 2 cents worth, but Brad's Black Box is a hit at my house--I have a Wallace True Tone 17.5k pickup and the Black Box really enhances the tone coming out of my 20 yr old NV400--I believe if you try it, you'll love it! Carl

Brian Ainsworth · Post by **Brian Ainsworth** » 18 May 2006 8:50 am

I'm going to check into it.. I'm in the process of installing a True Tone on the E9th neck of my Carter D10. Thanks for everyones help.

Frank Mrus · Post by **Frank Mrus** » 18 May 2006 4:03 pm

Hi, Brian,

Regarding the Steel Guitar Black Box, I don't think you can go wrong with this. Originally, I purchased it (as Brad said in one of his posts)in order to "preserve and enhance" the sound/tone of my single coils. The effect doesn't "jump out" at you but I find it smoothes the tone in a mildly mellow sort of way. I can't part with mine.

Marlin Smoot · Post by **Marlin Smoot** » 18 May 2006 4:18 pm

I can't say enough great things about the Steel Guitar Black Box. I use it with my Emmons and Session 400 amp. If you have a solid state amp, you will really enjoy what it does. It is not like an overdrive stopmbox where you step on it and you instantly get a big tone change. it is very suttle, but the more you play with it, you begin to understand how big of a tone monster/enhancer it is.

I also play lead guitar and when I don't want to take 2 amps (One for steel and one for guitar) I also use the Black Box with my Tele and Session 400 and it also produces a sweet tone. Get the Black Box then build your foundation of effects around it. You may find you enjoy the sweet tone of the steel without any effects except for the Black Box. If your a tone junkie, you'll love it.

Good luck in your quest for tone.

Al Terhune · Post by **Al Terhune** » 18 May 2006 6:12 pm

I've always been the first to admit I don't have the best ears and can't tell, for example, the difference between a tube amp and solid state amp (unless the tubes are driven to a touch of distortion), and even with the Black Box, I wasn't first impressed. But when I recorded on my pro tools a track with and a track without, I was astounded at how the track without sounded muddy, and the track with sounded crisp and sharp. Wow.

Al